Festival cruise is on crest of a rave
ANCHORS AWEIGH FOR A DRUM & BASS BONANZA
FLOATING somewhere out near the Balearics, we order strawberry margaritas as the DJ spins cutting-edge house on the top deck.
Women dressed as lions and peacocks shimmy around as we navigate our way through jungle backdrops to the poolside.
On board The Ark, a rave festival cruise around the Med, it feels as if we’ve stepped off the edge of the world and entered a new, Technicolor universe.
We are on the gargantuan Vision Of The Seas, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, for four crazy days and three bonkers nights of world-class music and partying on the waves.
A far cry from confusing city festivals and muddy, unpredictable camping nightmares, The Ark’s glossy beat-fuelled fiestas attract a super-glam party crowd.
Luxury quarters with complimentary room service and five-star facilities provide a high-end cruising experience.
Outside, half of Europe runs wild in a whirlwind of sound, energy and glitter. The Ark’s jewel is its main stage on the top deck by the pool.
Gorgeous girls and guys in tiny swimwear hit the dancefloor while groups of pals hang out in shady spots as a party soundtrack pulses across the breeze.
British house favourite Nic Fanciulli, German tech house dons Booka Shade and pop-laced disco from Aeroplane add clubbing credibility to the musical feast.
For the more active landlubber, there’s a fully equipped gym and cardio centre, a rock-climbing wall and a full-size running track around the top deck.
And The Ark spares no expense, making sure its passengers – who they refer to as “the chosen ones” – are fully fuelled to rave. Guests are free to eat, drink, dance and soak up the madness whenever and wherever they want.
The Windjammer Café serves up a near 24-hour buffet. Included in the cruise price is everything from paella to curry, cold cuts to smoked salmon, plus a vast pastry and sweet selection. You can also enjoy a pre-session dinner courtesy of Michelin-starred chefs who perform cooking shows at Izumi Japanese. Hearty steaks await at Chops Grille.
After setting off from Barcelona our first port of call is Sete, a little town tucked away in the south of France where the party-goers pile ashore to sample its speciality oyster and mussel platters.
Majorca’s capital Palma is another stylish addition with its dazzling seafront, al fresco cafés and rambling alleyways. But the best stop of the trip has to be the halfday in Ibiza which allows plenty of time to hit the clubs, shops and bars. But as soon as the sun goes down, excitement builds for some more heavyweight beats and bass back on the boat.
Fired up and ready to party we head outside as hip-hop beast Fatman Scoop whips up a poolside crowd with a 1am DJ set. Glowsticks, fancy hats, champagne glasses and cigarettes dangle above our heads as we watch the action from a treelined viewing balcony. For those looking for a late finish – or an early start – there’s
The Horizon room in a dark space on the 10th deck, offering intense techno beats right through until morning.
A hedonistic, sun-drenched voyage with maximum wow-factor, The Ark banishes the after-taste of those damp-tent gatherings with a luxury concept unique to the music festival scene.
Watch this space – to find out where this moveable party island will be heading next…